Birds

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Pet Bird

If you’re thinking about getting a pet that is low maintenance, birds are the perfect choice and they make wonderful pets. Birds are easy to care for and almost everyone likes birds – they indeed can be quite entertaining.

When it comes to deciding on a pet bird, you have plenty to choose from. The question to ask yourself however, is whether you want a small bird or a large bird and do you want it to be more on the quite side or are you ok with the “Polly want a cracker” kind?

Small birds like canaries, parakeets and lovebirds are well suited to live in a typical household setting. There are a wide variety of resources available to help you raise birds properly, including instructional books, pet supplies and local veterinarian offices that can treat them – thankfully. They tend to need less of your attention than, say, a parrot or cockatoo would, and they interact more easily with people.

If you are considering getting finches or canaries, it’s best to look for those that are interactive with the other birds and also move energetically around the cage.

The most economical and the most convenient pet birds are the budgies. They usually cost less and are not expensive to maintain. The greatest benefit is that they are lively and spirited birds that can lighten up the whole atmosphere of the house.

If you’re considering a large bird - a parrot for instance - there are many types that can speak if given proper training and they also perform some wonderful tricks. Parrots are considered lovable pets – and did I mention they can be loud too?

When the time has come to choose your soon to be pet birdie it is important to carefully observe them before picking the one you want to take home to join your family. If you notice birds with puffed up feathers or those that sit quietly, beware that they may be having some illness. Stay away from such birds. Patches of balding, loss of toes, and wound marks are also signs that tell you to avoid buying these birds. Though these are not symptoms of imminent and immediate death, it can be the signs of a trying situation or environment. These birds may have problems in adjusting to a new setting.

You must be sure of the requirements of your pet birds before you buy them. The most important and the most costly item that you would buy for your bird will be the cage. If the size of the cage does not suit the needs of your pet, you definitely have to buy another one. For this reason it is very important to check that the size of the cage is appropriate for your bird. It should not be too spacious or too congested. An important aspect while buying the cage is that the bars of the cage should not be spaced so far apart allowing the bird to escape otherwise it’s ‘bye bye birdie’! Check whether you can remove, clean, and replace the feeder coups or cups without any difficulty. This is important because if the feeder coups cannot be replaced, then the cages will not be of any use.

It’s important to know the lifespan of a bird before buying one. Otherwise you may incur a lot of pet bills even after your pet bird has left this world. You must also bear in mind that many of the professional shelters do not re-home pet birds as they do with cats and dogs. So when you’re ready to choose your pet bird - choose wisely.